What Happened in September 1971

Historical Events

US Men's Tennis Open

Sep 1 Australian John Newcombe becomes 1st male top-seed to lose in US Open 1st round when beaten by eventual finalist Jan Kodeš 6-2, 6-7, 6-7, 3,-6

Sports History

Sep 1 Pittsburgh Pirates start what is believed to be first all-black line-up (including several Latinos) in MLB history‚ in 10-7 win v Philadelphia Phillies; includes future Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell

  • Sep 1 Rolling Stones sue manager Allen Klein
  • Sep 1 The Irish Republican Army set off a series of bombs across Northern Ireland injuring a number of people
  • Sep 2 NY's Electric Circus Club goes out of business
  • Sep 2 Teenage debutants Chris Evert & Jimmy Connors win their first matches at the US Open Tennis Championships at Forest Hills
  • Sep 2 There are further Irish Republican Army bombs set off across the region, including one in Belfast which wrecked the headquarters of the Ulster Unionist Party
  • Sep 3 A baby girl and an Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) soldier are killed in separate shooting incidents in Northern Ireland
  • Sep 3 Manlio Brosio resigns as secretary general of NATO
  • Sep 3 Qatar regains complete independence from Britain
  • Sep 3 Watergate team breaks into Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office in Los Angeles, but failed to find his file
  • Sep 4 Alaskan 727 crashes into Chilkoot Mountain, kills 109 (Alaska)
  • Sep 5 Astros pitcher J R Richard debut, strikes out 15 Giants in a 5-3 win
  • Sep 5 NY Mets Don Hahn hits 1st inside the park homer at Phillies Vet

Meeting of Interest

Sep 6 British Prime Minister Edward Heath meets with Irish Prime Minister/Taoiseach Jack Lynch at Chequers in England to discuss the situation in Northern Ireland

Telethon

Sep 6 Jerry Lewis' 6th Muscular Dystrophy telethon raises $8,125,387

Event of Interest

Sep 6 William Craig and Ian Paisley speak at a rally in Belfast before a crowd of approximately 20,000 people and call for the establishment of a 'third force' to defend 'Ulster'

  • Sep 8 John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts opens in Washington, D.C.
  • Sep 9 1,000 convicts riot & seize Attica, NY prison

Imagine

Sep 9 Apple Records releases John Lennon's second solo studio album, "Imagine" in US; it tops the charts in US, UK, Australia, and 3 other countries

  • Sep 9 John Lennon and Yoko Ono appear on Dick Cavett Show (ABC-TV)
  • Sep 9 NHL great Gordie Howe retires (for the first time), after 25 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings
  • Sep 10 KVUE TV channel 24 in Austin, Texas (ABC) begins broadcasting
  • Sep 11 Egypt adopts its constitution
  • Sep 11 Laurel Lea Schaefer (Ohio), 22, crowned 44th Miss America 1972

Two by Two

Sep 11 Richard Rodgers and Martin Charnin's musical "Two by Two", starring Danny Kaye, closes at Imperial Theater, NYC, after 343 performances

US Open Women's Tennis

Sep 11 US Open Women's Tennis, Forest Hills, NY: In an all-American final Billie Jean King beats doubles partner Rosemary Casals 6-4, 7-6

  • Sep 12 US Open Men's Tennis, Forest Hills, NY: American Stan Smith wins first career Grand Slam event; beats Czech star Jan Kodeš 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6
  • Sep 13 11 guards & 31 prisoners die in take over at Attica State Prison

Event of Interest

Sep 13 Nikita Khrushchev, Soviet premier, buried in Moscow

  • Sep 13 Two North Ireland Loyalists are mortally injured when the bomb they were preparing exploded prematurely in a house in Bann Street, Belfast
  • Sep 13 WIIQ TV channel 41 in Demopolis, AL (PBS) begins broadcasting
  • Sep 13 World Hockey Association forms
  • Sep 14 Cleveland Indians & Washington Senators, play 20 innings
  • Sep 14 Two British soldiers are killed in separate shooting incidents in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
  • Sep 15 1st broadcast of "Columbo" starring Peter Falk on NBC
  • Sep 16 6 Ku Klux Klansmen arrested in connection with bombing of 10 school buses
  • Sep 16 A number of Unionists resign over the proposed tripartite talks involving Northern Ireland, the UK, and the Republic of Ireland

Event of Interest

Sep 18 Momofuku Ando markets the first Cup Noodle, packaging it in a waterproof polystyrene container

  • Sep 18 Ryder Cup Golf, Old Warson CC: US beats Europe, 18½-13½; after leading by 1 match, GB loses all Friday morning 4-ball matches to lose momentum
  • Sep 19 New York City Marathon: inaugural women's race won by Beth Bonner in 2:55:22; 2nd men's race won by Norman Higgins in 2:22:54
  • Sep 21 AL OKs Washington Senator move to Arlington (Texas Rangers)
  • Sep 22 OPEC directs members to negotiate price increases to offset the devaluation of the US dollar
  • Sep 22 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
  • Sep 23 2 members of the Official Irish Republican Army are killed in a premature bomb explosion

Event of Interest

Sep 23 Jan Vermeer's painting "The Love Letter" is stolen from The Centre for Fine Arts, Brussels by a 21-year-old thief

  • Sep 24 90 Russian diplomats expelled from Britain for spying
  • Sep 24 Eyskens-Cools disbands Belgium parliament
  • Sep 24 Houston Astros beat San Diego Padres, 2-1, in 21 innings

Sports History

Sep 26 Jim Palmer is 4th Oriole to win at least 20 games this season

  • Sep 26 MP David Bleakley resigns in protest over the introduction of Internment and the lack of any new political initiatives by the Northern Ireland government
  • Sep 26 WGBY TV channel 57 in Springfield, MA (PBS) begins broadcasting
  • Sep 27 Tripartite talks involving the prime ministers of Northern Ireland, Britain, and the Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland take place at Chequers, England
  • Sep 27 USSR performs nuclear test at Novaya Zemlya USSR
  • Sep 28 Hungarian cardinal József Mindszenty after 15 years refuge in US Embassy in Budapest is allowed to leave the country
  • Sep 28 NY Times reports growing interest of white youth in black gospel music
  • Sep 28 UK passes the Misuse of Drugs Act banning the medicinal use of cannabis.
  • Sep 29 "McMillan & Wife" debuts on NBC-TV
  • Sep 29 Cyclone & tidal wave off Bay of Bengal kills as many as 10,000
  • Sep 29 Orbiting Solar Observatory VII launched
  • Sep 29 Ron Hunt is hit by a pitch for record 50th time in a season
  • Sep 29 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
  • Sep 30 -11/6] 3rd bishop synod held in Rome
  • Sep 30 Ian Paisley and Desmond Boal launch the [Ulster] Democratic Unionist Party
  • Sep 30 Last Washington Senator home game, Yanks win career 5th forfeit game Yanks trailing 4-2 in 9th with 2 outs, fans rush field
1971 History

Famous Birthdays

  • Sep 1 Hakan Şükür, Turkish soccer striker (112 caps; Galatasaray), born in Sapanca, Turkey
  • Sep 1 Lââm [Lamiah], French singer, born in Paris
  • Sep 1 Ricardo Antonio Chavira, American actor (Desperate Housewives), born in San Antonio, Texas
  • Sep 1 Yoshitaka Hirota, Japanese video game composer (Shadow Hearts), born in Kyoto, Japan
  • Sep 2 Katt [Micah Sierra] Williams, American comedian, actor, rapper, born in Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Sep 2 Kjetil André Aamodt, Norwegian skier
  • Sep 2 Pawan Kalyan, Indian actor
  • Sep 2 Rich Aurilia, infielder (SF Giants), born in Brooklyn, New York
  • Sep 2 Shauna Sand, actress (Renegade), born in San Diego, California
  • Sep 2 Tom Steels, Belgian cyclist
  • Sep 2 Tommy Maddox, NFL quarterback (NY Giants)
  • Sep 3 Chabeli Iglesias, daughter of Julio Iglesias, born in Madrid, Spain
  • Sep 3 Glen Housman, Australian swimmer (Olympic silver 1,500m 1992), born in Rockhampton, Queensland
  • Sep 3 Trevor St. John, American actor (One Live to Live), born in Spokane, Washington
  • Sep 4 Anita Yuen, Hong Kong actress, born in Hong Kong
  • Sep 4 Maik Taylor, Irish soccer goalkeeper (88 caps Northern Ireland; Fulham, Birmingham City), born in Hildesheim, Germany
  • Sep 5 Adam Hollioake, England cricketer, born in Melbourne, Australia
  • Sep 5 Carlester Crumpler, American NFL tight end (Seattle Seahawks), born in Greenville, North Carolina
  • Sep 5 Kim Maher, American softball infielder (Olympic gold 1996), born in Saigon, Vietnam
  • Sep 6 Anthony Goldwire, American NBA guard (Denver Nuggets), born in West Palm Beach, Florida
  • Sep 6 Devang Gandhi, Indian cricketer, born in Bhavnagar, Gujarat

Dolores O’Riordan (1971-2018)

Sep 6 Irish musician and singer-songwriter (The Cranberries - "Zombie", "Linger"), born in Ballybricken, County Limerick, Ireland

  • Sep 6 Holli Hyche, American runner, born in Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Sep 6 Kathi Wolfgramm, American rocker (Jets), born in San Diego, California
  • Sep 6 Pavel Patera, Czech hockey forward (Team Czech Rep, Olympic gold 1998), born in Kladno, Czech Republic
  • Sep 7 Briana Scurry, American soccer goalkeeper (175 caps; Olympic gold 1996, 2004; FIFA World Cup gold 1999; Atlanta Beat, Washington Freedom), born in Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Sep 8 Brooke Burke, American model and TV personality (Wild On!), born in Hartford, Connecticut
  • Sep 8 Dave Merritt, American NFL outside linebacker (Arizona Cardinals), born in Raleigh, North Carolina
  • Sep 8 David Arquette, American actor, director and producer (Scream, Kiss & Tell), born in Winchester, Virginia
  • Sep 8 Greg Minor, American NBA guard (Boston Celtics), born in Sandersville, Georgia
  • Sep 8 Jocko Willink, American navy seal and author (Extreme Ownership), born in Torrington, Connecticut
  • Sep 8 Lachlan Murdoch, Australian, British, American businessman (New Corp) and son of Rupert Murdoch, born in London, England

Martin Freeman (52 years old)

Sep 8 English actor (The Hobbit, Sherlock), born in Aldershot, Hampshire

  • Sep 8 Ross Childress, American guitarist (Collective Soul), born in Stockbridge, Georgia
  • Sep 9 Henry Thomas, American actor (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial), born in San Antonio, Texas
  • Sep 9 Jill Sudduth, American synchronized swimmer (Olympic gold 1996), born in Baltimore, Maryland
  • Sep 11 Mack Strong, American NFL fullback (Seattle Seahawks), born in Fort Benning, Georgia
  • Sep 11 Markos Moulitsas, American blogger and author (Daily Kos), born in Chicago, Illinois
  • Sep 11 Richard Ashcroft, British singer (The Verve - "Bitter Sweet Symphony"), born in Wigan, Lancashire, England
  • Sep 11 Shelton Quarles, American NFL linebacker, executive (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Director Football Ops), born in Nashville, Tennessee
  • Sep 12 Terry Dehere, American politician and NBA guard (Sacramento Kings), born in New York City
  • Sep 13 Ezio Bosso, Italian pianist, composer (Rain, In Your Black Eyes; Domes of Freedom), and conductor, born in Turin, Italy (d. 2020)

Goran Ivanišević (52 years old)

Sep 13 Croatian tennis player (Wimbledon 2001), born in Split, Croatia

  • Sep 13 Manabu Namiki, Japanese video game composer, born in Funabashi, Japan
  • Sep 13 Richie Anderson, American NFL running back (NY Jets), born in Olney, Maryland
  • Sep 13 Stella McCartney, English fashion designer and daughter of Paul & Linda McCartney, born in Lambeth, London
  • Sep 13 Ted Drury, American hockey forward (Olympics 1994), born in Boston, Massachusetts
  • Sep 14 Andre Matos, Brazilian singer and musician (Symfonia), born in São Paulo, Brazil
  • Sep 14 Jeff Loomis, American progressive metal guitarist (Nevermore), born in Appleton, Wisconsin
  • Sep 14 Kimberly Williams, American actress (Father of the Bride), born in Rye, New York
  • Sep 14 Mario Henry, American NFL wide receiver (Buffalo Bills, Atlanta Falcons), born in Erie, Pennsylvania
  • Sep 15 Ben Wallers, English musician and songwriter (Country Teasers), born in St Albans, England
  • Sep 15 Chad Bratzke, American NFL defensive end (NY Giants), born in Waukegan, Illinois
  • Sep 15 Dario Antonio Úsuga, Colombian drug baron (Gulf Clan cartel) nicknamed Otoniel, born in Necoclí, Colombia
  • Sep 15 Josh Charles, American actor (The Good Wife), born in Baltimore, Maryland
  • Sep 15 Michael Malone, American basketball head coach (Denver Nuggets 2015-21; Sacramento Kings 2013-14; NBA All-Star Game 2019), born in Queens, New York
  • Sep 15 Wayne Ferreira, South African tennis star (Munich 1995), born in Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Sep 15 Will Shields, American NFL guard (KC Chiefs), born in Fort Riley, Kansas

Amy Poehler (52 years old)

Sep 16 American comedian and actress (Saturday Night Live, Parks and Recreation), born in Newton, Massachusetts

  • Sep 16 Charlie Fields, American actor (Shannon), born in Brooklyn, New York
  • Sep 16 Derrell Mitchell, American NFL/CFL wide receiver (Atlanta Falcons, Argonauts), born in Miami, Florida
  • Sep 16 Shawntel Smith, American beauty pageant (Miss America 1996), born in Muldrow, Oklahoma
  • Sep 18 Anna Netrebko, Russian opera singer, born in Krasnodar, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union

Jada Pinkett Smith (52 years old)

Sep 18 American actress (Set it Off; Nutty Professor;, Menace II Society), born in Baltimore, Maryland

  • Sep 18 Kate Starre, Australian field hockey utility (Olympic gold 1996, 2000; World Cup gold 1994, 98; Champions Trophy gold 1991, 93, 95, 97), born in Armadale, Australia

Lance Armstrong (52 years old)

Sep 18 American road cyclist (7 Tour de France titles) banned for illegal drug use, born in Plano, Texas

  • Sep 18 Ron Childs, American NFL linebacker (New Orleans Saints), born in Kennewick, Washington
  • Sep 19 Colleen Coyne, American ice hockey defenseman (USA, Olympics 1998), born in Falmouth, Massachusetts
  • Sep 19 Jeremy Nunley, American NFL defensive tackle and defensive end (Houston Oilers), born in Winchester, Tennessee (d. 2018)
  • Sep 19 Sanaa Lathan, American actress (The Best Man Holiday), born in New York City
  • Sep 20 Henrik Larsson, Swedish soccer striker (106 caps; Feyenoord, Celtic, Barcelona, Helsingborgs IF), born in Helsingborg, Sweden
  • Sep 20 Masashi Hamauzu, Japanese video game composer, born in Munich, West Germany
  • Sep 20 Ryan Terry, American NFL running back and kick returner (Arizona Cardinals), born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina
  • Sep 21 Alfonso Ribeiro, American actor (Silver Spoons - "Alfonso"; Fresh Prince of Bel-Air - "Carlton'), singer, dancer, and director, born in New York City
  • Sep 21 John Crawley, English cricketer
  • Sep 21 Luke Wilson, American actor
  • Sep 22 Chesney Hawkes, English singer (Feels So Alive, The One and Only), born in Windsor, Berkshire, England
  • Sep 22 Christian Fauria, American NFL tight end (Seattle Seahawks), born in Harbour City, California
  • Sep 22 Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, daughter of King Harald V of Norway and clairvoyant, born in Oslo, Norway
  • Sep 23 Osamu Nishimura, wrestler (NJPW)
  • Sep 23 Sean Spicer, American political strategist, White House Press Secretary (2017), born in Barrington, Rhode Island
  • Sep 24 Peter Salisbury, English drummer (The Verve), born in Chippenham, England
  • Sep 25 Brian Dunkleman, American actor, born in Ellicottville, New York
  • Sep 25 John Lynch, American Pro Football HOF safety (Super Bowl 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers; 9 x Pro Bowl; Denver Broncos) and executive (GM SF 49ers), born in Hinsdale, Illinois
  • Sep 26 Elva Dryer, American 1.5K/5K runner, born in Durango, Colorado
  • Sep 26 Patterson Thompson, West Indies cricketer (WI Test fast bowler v New Zealand 1996), born in Saint Michael, Barbados
  • Sep 27 Alonzo Spellman, NFL defensive end (Chicago Bears)
  • Sep 27 Erik Smit, Dutch soccer player (FC Utrecht)
  • Sep 27 Li Yapeng, Chinese actor
  • Sep 27 Patrick Muldoon, American actor (Austin-Days of Our Lives, Melrose Place), born in San Pedro, California
  • Sep 28 Alan Wright, English footballer
  • Sep 28 Joseph Arthur, American singer-songwriter
  • Sep 28 Marcus Spears, American NFL/WLAF guard/tackle (Chicago Bears, Amsterdam Admirals)
  • Sep 28 Matthew Elliott, Australian cricket batsman (21 Tests, 3 x 100, HS 199; Victoria CA, Glamorgan CCC, South Australia CA), born in Melbourne, Australia
  • Sep 29 Adrion Smith, american CFL cornerback (Toronto Argonauts), born in Kansas City, Missouri
  • Sep 29 Mackenzie Crook, British actor and comedian (The Pirates of the Caribbean, Detectorists), born in Maidstone, England
  • Sep 29 Ray Buchanan, American NFL center (Indianapolis Colts), born in Chicago, Illinois
  • Sep 29 Sibel Tüzün, Turkish pop-rock and jazz singer-songwriter, born in Istanbul, Turkey
  • Sep 30 Brentson Buckner, NFL player and coach (Pittsburgh Steelers), born in Columbus, Georgia
  • Sep 30 Jenna Elfman, American actress (Townies, Dharma & Greg), born in Los Angeles, California
Born in 1971

Famous Deaths

  • Sep 3 David Street [Patrick Devlin], American actor and singer (Moonrise; I Surrender Dear; Broadway Open House), dies of cancer at 53
  • Sep 3 Percy Holmes, English cricket batsman (7 Tests; Yorkshire CCC), dies at 84
  • Sep 3 Veronica Turleigh, Irish actress (Promoter), dies at 68
  • Sep 5 Ed Gordon Jr, American athlete (Olympic gold long jump 1932), dies at 63
  • Sep 5 George Trafton, American NFL center (Chicago Bears), dies at 74
  • Sep 7 Spring Byington, American actress (Lily Ruskin-December Bride), dies at 84
  • Sep 10 Bella Darvi [Bajla Węgier], Polish actress (The Egyptian, Hell and High Water, Racers), commits suicide at 42
  • Sep 10 Pier Angeli [Anna Maria Pierangeli], Italian actress (Sodom & Gomorrah, Vintage, Battle of the Bulge), dies of barbiturate overdose at 39

Nikita Khrushchev (1894-1971)

Sep 11 First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1953-64), dies of a heart attack at 77

  • Sep 11 Percy Helton, American actor (Jail Busters, Harbor of Missing Men), dies at 77
  • Sep 13 Lin Biao, Chinese Communist Marshal during the Civil War and party leader, dies in a plane crash at 63, possibly while fleeing from a botched coup against Mao
  • Sep 13 Nelly A "Nell" Knoop, Dutch actress (Silent Waters), dies at 72
  • Sep 13 Paul Blackburn, American poet, and editor (Black Mountain Review), dies of esophageal cancer at 44 [1]
  • Sep 14 Bill Copson, cricketer (England pace bowler before & after WW2), dies
  • Sep 16 Ferdinand Sassen, Dutch philosopher and director, dies at 77
  • Sep 20 Giorgos Seferis, Greek poet and diplomat (Nobel Prize for Literature 1963), dies at 71
  • Sep 20 James Westerfield, American actor (Jungle Heat, Lucky Johnny), dies from a heart attack at 59
  • Sep 20 William F. Albright, American old testament scholar and archaeologist, dies at 80
  • Sep 21 Bernardo Houssay, Argentine physiologist (Nobel 1947), dies at 84
  • Sep 22 Joseph Ford McGuinn, American director and actor (Dick Tracy's G-Men), dies of a heart attack at 67
  • Sep 22 Yvonne St Clair, American dancer, dies at 57
  • Sep 23 Billy Gilbert, American actor (Great Dictator, His Gal Friday), dies at 77
  • Sep 23 James Waddell Alexander II, American mathematician and topologist, dies at 83
  • Sep 25 Hugo L. Black, American lawyer, jurist and politician (Sen-D-Alabama 1927-37, 78th Supreme Court justice 1937-71), dies at 85
  • Sep 25 T. C. Jones, American female impersonator, dies of cancer at 50